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Laloo wins the see-saw battle of hope and despair

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

It was a see-saw battle in Patna today as both the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal and the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party swung between hope and despair as often as television channels managed to get updates on counting.

The mood was upbeat in the NDA camp early this morning as the alliance established a healthy lead with first trends. Suddenly, everybody was discussing who would be the next chief minister of Bihar - Nitish Kumar, Ram Vilas Paswan, Shatrughan Sinha, Kailashpati Mishra or, believe it or not, Yashwant Sinha.

Laloo Prasad Yadav understandably was not willing to meet journalists, whom he often accuses of siding with the ''fascist forces.'' His wife Chief Minister Rabri Devi, of course, understood her husband's mood and kept herself busy in her house - 1, Anne Marg.

Laloo refused a comment to journalists even when he stepped out to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Patna Medical College Hospital later in the day. The NDA was leading in most of the seats for which leads were available then.

However, even as Laloo went through the formalities of a platinum jubilee function with the practised ease of a former chief minister, the scene began to change - quite dramatically.

By the time he reached home, there was a smile on his face. He would talk to journalists, his aides announced.

The official residence of the chief minister once again began buzzing with activity.

Around the same time crowds began to thin at the BJP headquarters. Inside, in the main hall, a big colour television had only a handful of workers for company.

The only senior leader present on the premises was the party spokesman, Kiran Ghai. A brave smile playing on his face, he hoped the luck would swing in his party's favour. A furtive glance at his wrist watch - the time was running out.

As this correspondent was leaving the building, Kailashpati Mishra, BJP's state unit head, arrived in his car. The man, who was being counted among chief ministerial hopefuls just a few hours back, was alone. Nobody to greet him at the door, nobody to open his office for him.

He pressed the call bell for an attendant, inquired about the next flight to Delhi and settled down for a casual chat.

''The alliance would have done much better had the seat adjustment talks succeeded seven days earlier," he said with just a trace of disappointment in his voice.

No, he would not fix the blame on any one party or personality. "All of us are equally responsible." But yes, faced with ''Naxal violence and an hostile administration'' he always knew it was going to be an up-hill task.

A little distance away, Laloo supporters were being served nashta. "Lalooji has emerged as the Arjun of Mahabharata," said the convenor of the party's campaign committee, Bhola Prasad.

He was, however, quick to point out that not all constituents of the NDA were enemies. Some of them must join Lalooji to keep the fascist forces out. "For us no party other than the BJP is untouchable. They can still join us."

Laloo himself was looking much relaxed now. "Abhi kuch nahin kah sakte hain sarkar ke bare mein," he said.

Repeated congratulatory calls from constituencies kept interrupting his conversation with journos.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi continued to play a perfect housewife, occasionally showing up to accept greetings from party workers and scribes. She is probably not thinking of a second term. For, she knows her husband is.

EARLIER REPORT:
Close contest in Bihar assembly polls

Assembly Election 2000

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